The 22-year-old has been named at blindside flanker after only 14 Super Rugby games with the Waratahs.

The bolter in the line-up, Hanigan was still pinching himself that he got a start with NSW and has now landed in the Australian team.

"It's surreal, you don't think it's going to happen and even when it does you're still in disbelief," Hanigan said.

"Jack (Dempsey) got injured, which gave me a bit of an opportunity and I grabbed it with both hands and the ball's just kept rolling from there."

Hanigan always harboured ambitions of playing for Australia - or New Zealand given he would practise the haka and the moves of former All Black Carlos Spencer.

"I used to imitate the haka at the start of the game," he said.

"I liked all the flashy shoes, I didn't go into the forwards until I was about 16, had a bit of a stint at outside centre, which I don't think I'd be anywhere near if I was playing but I did think I was a flashy back, back then."

Hanigan joins Waratahs teammate and former Dubbo Kangaroo Tom Robertson in the starting side, with the young prop to earn his eighth national cap against the Fijians.

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika was a fan of Hanigan's attitude to training and looked to draw a positive from the loss of regular Test back-rowers Sean McMahon (injury) and David Pocock, who is on a sabbatical.

"He's not scared to get stuck in," Cheika said.

"He'll work hard for you. He's got a lot of improvement to go and I suppose he never expected to get this.

"Let's turn that negative into a positive and give someone an opportunity who brings a different profile to the game from our point of view at No.6."

Hanigan expected to be nervous running out on to AAMI Park on Saturday afternoon but didn't think it would take long to settle.

"Nerves are good as long as you don't lose what you've got to do on the field, but as soon as the whistle goes and the first bit of contact (I get) might knock all that out," he said.

Kick-off is 3pm.